Extreme Weather Restoration Update - SCE Updates

Important SCE Service Updates for Impacted Customers

UPDATE
Jan. 17, 2025
Update: Extreme Weather Restoration Update

Dear Customer,



UPDATE
Jan. 16, 2025
Update: Extreme Weather Restoration Update

Dear Customer,

Wildfires continue to bring immense challenges and devastation to our communities. Our hearts go out to all those affected, and we stand with you during this difficult time as we work together towards recovery.

Weather forecasts show this week’s current windstorm is subsiding today and has already dissipated in many areas. We recognize the significant challenges that come with being de-energized by a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), and we thank you for your understanding as we work to prioritize everyone's safety. Safety is and will remain our number one priority.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Once the winds subside, our crews inspect power lines to ensure it is safe to re-energize
  • Once a circuit is cleared for inspection, restoration typically takes up to 8 hours. If damages are found during the inspection, restoration can take longer.
PROGRESS MADE 

So far today, we have already restored power to approximately 100,000 customers. While we have made good progress, we have more to do. In some burn scar areas, we haven’t yet been granted access or it isn’t yet safe to restore power.We will continue to communicate to impacted customers on an individual, as-needed basis.

Our website provides the latest updates. Please visit Extreme Weather Restoration Update and Outage Status Look Up on sce.com. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

We are inspired by the resilience and strength of our California neighbors and communities. It is an honor to be part of such a supportive community.


UPDATE
Jan. 15, 2025
Update: Severe Weather and Power Restoration

Dear Customer,

Relentless and hazardous weather conditions persist as winds continue to cause widespread damage, resulting in power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Please stay safe as strong Santa Ana winds are forecast through the end of tomorrow, Thursday.

OUTAGES AND RESTORATION

As of 3:30 p.m. today, 115,709 customers are without power due to windstorm, fire damage and/or PSPS, with the vast majority (97,751) due to de-energizations we implemented for public safety. We continue our efforts to restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.

While we understand how disruptive PSPS de-energizations are, safety must remain our top priority. Commonly asked questions that we receive from customers include:

Questions:

  • Why is my power out due to a PSPS and my neighbor’s house isn’t?
  • Why is my power out due to a PSPS if I don’t live in a high fire risk area (HFRA)? PSPS is frustrating enough without having information to address that concern.
Answer:
  • We deliver power to customers through an electrical network made up of thousands of circuits. Some customers may be served by a circuit that goes through a HFRA which may be de-energized for safety reasons. In other cases, customers affected by PSPS may be without power because the circuit that serves their property goes through a burn area, a region severely affected by a wildfire where we may not yet have assessed damage to initiate repairs.

SUPPORT RESOURCES AND MORE INFORMATION

SCE Community Resource Centers and Community Crew Vehicles are dispatched in the hardest hit neighborhoods to provide service, including Customer Resiliency Kits and other helpful resources and programs.

For tips on how to prepare for power outages, please visit Outage Tips and learn more at Extreme Weather Events Frequently Asked Questions.

SAFETY TIPS FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES
  • Watch for downed wires — Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. Never approach a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately.
  • Prepare an emergency kit with essentials — Pack water, food, medications, first-aid supplies and other essentials, including emergency contacts, a battery-powered radio and cash.
  • If you use a generator — Place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to house circuits can create "backfeed" and is dangerous to your neighbors and repair crews.
  • Plan how to decide to stay or go — Plan how and when you will evacuate safely to maintain needs such as power-dependent medical devices. Keep your car gas tank at least half full.
  • Stay informed — Sign up for emergency alerts and check local evacuation orders.

For the latest updates on outage status, please visit our Outage Status Look Up page on sce.com. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

We appreciate your understanding during this challenging time, as we work around the clock to restore power as soon as safely possible.

UPDATE
Jan. 14, 2025
Update: Extreme Weather Restoration Update

Dear Customer,

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation as we continue to navigate the impacts of the strongest wind event experienced in Southern California in over a decade. We continue to closely monitor this weather event, with strong winds expected to last through Thursday. Given these dangerous conditions, we have initiated Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) protocol in targeted areas to protect communities. We recognize that PSPS creates hardships, yet safety remains our number one priority.

POWER RESTORATION

As of 5 p.m. today, 70,250 customers are still without power due to storm, fire damage and/or a PSPS event. We have 3,500 SCE crew members, contractors and mutual assistance personnel continuing to work around the clock to restore power. SCE is working with fire, emergency operations and public safety personnel as crews inspect areas and remove safety hazards.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

A number of organizations are providing resources to impacted communities. A few are noted below, along with the services they provide:

  • The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with government agencies, nonprofit and faith-based partners and others to respond to the fires throughout Los Angeles County. It is accepting food donations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at its two distribution centers: 1734 East 41st Street, Los Angeles, 90058, and 2300 Pellissier Place, Industry, 90601.
  • The Pasadena Community Foundation has opened the Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund, providing an opportunity to support immediate and pressing needs even as the fire continues to spread.
  • Los Angeles area YMCA's Centers for Community Well-Being are serving as a community resource and emergency relief site. Several locations are accepting essential items donations for victims.
  • World Central Kitchen is working with restaurant and food truck partners to provide meals to feed first responders.
  • Financial donations enable the American Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.
  • The Salvation Army is providing critical aid, like shelter, food, and support, across Southern California through their Emergency Disaster Fund.

SAFETY TIPS

Stay Informed:

  • Sign up for outage alerts at sce.com/outagealerts to receive notifications about power outages in your area.
  • For the latest outage updates, including your outage status, please visit our Outage Look Up Tool. You can also report outages by calling 1-800-611-1911 or online.

Prepare Your Home:

  • Keep a supply of essentials, including water, non-perishable food, medications, and flashlights with extra batteries.
  • Ensure your mobile devices are fully charged and consider having a backup power source.

Stay Safe:

  • Avoid downed power lines and report them immediately to SCE or local authorities.
  • Use surge protectors to safeguard your electronics.
  • If you rely on electrically-powered medical equipment, have a backup power plan in place.
For the latest updates, please visit our Major Events and Extreme Weather Events Frequently Asked Questions pages on sce.com.

The strength and resilience of our region are shining through as our community members, employees, and fellow citizens work together to support one another. We extend our deepest gratitude to the firefighters, public safety workers, and many others supporting this effort. Our hearts are with all those affected by the devastating fires. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.


UPDATE
Jan. 13, 2025
Update: Severe Weather and Power Restoration

Dear Customer,

We understand the challenges many communities are facing due to ongoing weather conditions. While we’ve made significant progress in restoring power, we know that some customers are still without electricity, especially in hard to reach areas and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) regions. Please stay safe as we endure another round of strong Santa Ana winds through late Wednesday.

OUTAGE STATUS

We restored power to over 676,000 customers since the start of the wind event, and this includes some customers who have been impacted by more than one outage. Currently, 74,000 customers are without power due to storm damage or a PSPS event. Please sign up for outage alerts, and we encourage customers to report outages at 1-800-611-1911, and through sce.com/outages.

SAFETY TIPS FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES

  • Watch for downed wires — Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. Never approach a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately. 
  • Prepare an emergency kit with essentials — Pack water, food, medications, first-aid supplies and other essentials, including emergency contacts, a battery-powered radio and cash.
  • If you use a generator — Place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to house circuits can create "backfeed" and is dangerous to your neighbors and repair crews.
  • Plan how to decide to stay or go — Plan how and when you will evacuate safely to maintain needs such as power-dependent medical devices. Keep your car gas tank at least half full. 
  • Stay informed — Sign up for emergency alerts and check local evacuation orders.  

IN YOUR COMMUNITIES

We have dedicated employees out in the field providing community support. SCE Community Resource Centers and Community Crew Vehicles are dispatched within affected communities to provide customer service, including supplying Customer Resiliency Kits and other helpful resources and programs. Please visit our Check Outage Status page for a view of activated centers.


UPDATE
Jan. 12, 2025
Update: Severe Weather and Power Restoration

Dear Customer,

We recognize that persistent wildfire and wind conditions extending through the weekend continue the hardships. We deeply appreciate first responders who are working tirelessly to combat the fires. Our thoughts remain with those impacted during this incredibly challenging time.

OUTAGE STATUS

Currently, about 63,000 customers are without power, with the increase from yesterday’s 45,000 primarily due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs implemented in response to weather conditions. Our crews have restored power to over 530,000 customers since the start of this wind event.

RESTORATION PROGRESS

Thousands of SCE, contractors and mutual assistance personnel are prioritizing the hardest-hit areas. Once fire agencies release areas for restoration, damage assessment crews inspect areas and remove safety hazards. Vegetation management teams clear debris to support line crews in restoration efforts. As repairs are completed, power is first restored to essential services, and then to as many customers as is safely possible. Dangerous conditions may impact our progress, and it may take several days for SCE to restore power. Customers should be prepared for extended and potentially intermittent outages throughout these extreme conditions.

PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER WEATHER EVENT

A new wave of strong Santa Ana winds has arrived and is expected to peak Tuesday, with conditions lasting into Wednesday. Customers may experience outages due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) or damage caused by wind, fire or other circumstances.

Safety is our number one priority as we prepare for potential outages. To learn more about PSPS and how to prepare for possible power outages, click here. We remain focused on safely restoring power to customers as quickly as possible and will continue working day and night to make this happen.

SAFETY TIPS DURING POWER RESTORATION

As SCE crews work to restore power, please remember these safety tips:

  • Authorized SCE employees will be in apparel with an SCE logo.
  • Contractors and those assisting with mutual aid may be accompanied by an SCE employee.
  • SCE employees on company business are required to carry an SCE photo ID badge. Always ask to see their badge/identification.
  • SCE employees will never ask for payments during home visits.
  • To verify the authenticity of anyone claiming to be a representative of SCE, ask for identification or call us at (800) 655-4555 and press “8 for Spanish-language customer service.

UPDATE
Jan. 11, 2025
Update: Severe Weather and Power Restoration Update


Dear Customer,

Although the fires continue burning to devastating effect in Southern California, we are turning our focus to accelerating power restoration wherever it is safe to do so. Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone impacted by the recent events, and we remain grateful to the thousands of firefighters, other public safety officials and SCE colleagues working to assure public safety.

OUTAGE STATUS

Yesterday, we were given access by first responders to certain wildfire areas which enabled us to make great progress on damage assessments and restoration efforts. As a result, 45,450 customers currently are without power, down from 172,000 yesterday, and we have restored power to over 500,000 customers since the start of this wind event.

While our progress is encouraging, we recognize the hardships faced by displaced community members and customers without power.

RESTORATION PROCESS

As our community continues to face this significant wind and wildfire event, I want to share our restoration process.

Step 1: Damage Assessment – Comprehensive assessments are taking place as conditions allow. Yesterday, we assessed 85% of circuits outside of burn areas where it was safe to do so. Identifying the extent of sustained damage informs our repair and restoration priorities.

Step 2: Repair – After the assessments, repairs are prioritized based on conditions. The time needed to restore service varies, depending on the extent of the repair work required.

Step 3: Restore – Once repairs are completed, power is restored to essential services and facilities, and then to as many customers as safely as possible.

PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER WEATHER EVENT

Additional Santa Ana winds are in the forecast for later this weekend and early next week. Some customers may be de-energized, either from a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), strong winds, wildfires or other conditions. We remain committed to safely restoring power to customers as quickly as possible and will continue working day and night to make this happen. To learn more about PSPS and how to prepare for possible power outages, please visit our Public Safety Power Shutoff page.

For the latest outage updates, including your outage status, please visit our Outage Look Up Tool. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

UPDATE
Jan. 10, 2025
Urgent: Severe Weather and Power Restoration Update

Dear Customer,

We are fully aware that many customers are going on day four without power, prolonging a significant hardship. The ongoing severe weather and active wildfires continue to cause many challenges to our restoration efforts.

As of this afternoon, 172,000 customers are without power, and we have restored service to over 400,000 customers since the start of the wind event. We have made great progress on assessing the damage from this significant windstorm – the most impactful in more than a decade as shown by the photos below – and aim to complete 80% of damage assessments outside of burn areas where it is safe to do so by the end of today.

We have thousands of SCE, contract and mutual assistance personnel actively working together in our communities to repair damage and prioritize the hardest-hit areas. These efforts are taking place simultaneously with preparations underway for another significant wind event expected early next week. The scale of this week’s event, coupled with the anticipated size of the incoming high winds, will affect our ability to restore power as quickly as we would like.

In some areas, customers without power due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) may see their neighbors down the street with service. While those customers may not reside in a high fire risk area (HFRA), they may be fed by a circuit that goes through a HFRA and has been de-energized. Other PSPS customers may be without power because the circuit that serves them goes through a burn area where we have not yet been given access to enter to assess damage and initiate repairs.

Due to the severity of the wind events and dangerous fuel conditions following a dry winter, our preventive scope for possible de-energization has expanded and includes customers that historically have not experienced a PSPS. We can safely restore service to customers de-energized by PSPS only after the winds subside and once field crews inspect the line.

Regardless of why you are experiencing an outage, we remain committed to safely restoring power to our customers as quickly as possible. We are working day and night to make this happen.

For the latest outage updates, please visit the Outage Map. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

UPDATE
Jan. 9, 2025
Important Update: Extreme Weather Event

Dear Customer,

We understand the ongoing severe weather, wildfires and power outages continue to cause significant challenges. While it is promising to see the progress made on the major fires, it is heartbreaking to see the devastation. We remain immensely grateful to the firefighters, other public safety officials and SCE colleagues working to keep us safe.

We know that some customers have been without power for days, and we recognize how difficult and frustrating this is, especially when neighboring areas still have power.

We are working as expeditiously as possible to safely restore service. In the coming days, we will have a better sense of timing on the restoration of customers impacted by wildfires and wind damage. As with all major restoration efforts, we prioritize critical medical facilities, first responders and other essential services.

As of this morning, 327,654 customers are without power. We have restored service to approximately 100,000 customers since the start of the wind event.

We have thousands of field resources working tirelessly to restore power and have requested mutual assistance crews from other outside utilities/contractors; they are arriving tomorrow.

In the hardest-hit areas, some of the challenges we are working through include:

  • Limited access to active wildfire areas to assess scope of damage to equipment

  • Air quality and high winds that continue to ground drones and aircraft that aid damage assessments

Additional Santa Ana winds are in the forecast this weekend and early next week. Unfortunately, some customers who have service restored may experience additional power shutoffs, due to the unpredictable nature of wildfire and wind conditions. For others, outages may extend into next week as the winds persist.

For the latest updates, please visit our Major Events page on sce.com. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

UPDATE
Jan. 9, 2025
Urgent: Severe Weather and Power Restoration Update

Dear Customer,

Ongoing severe weather continues to significantly impact our communities. We are saddened to witness the devastation, and our hearts go out to all those affected. We are immensely grateful to the firefighters, other public safety officials and SCE colleagues working to keep us safe.

We recognize the hardship that loss of power creates. Due to the dangerous conditions, it will take longer than usual for SCE to restore power, and customers should be prepared for extended and potentially intermittent outages. Many outages from this week’s extreme weather could extend through the weekend and into early next week. For equipment that is damaged by fire or where access is restricted, restoration times could be substantially longer. Ongoing fire and wind conditions may result in some customers whose power is restored to experience a subsequent power shutoff.

We have thousands of field resources ready to restore service as soon as weather conditions allow. The company will be supported by other utilities through our industry’s mutual assistance program.

Customers whose power has not been impacted during the current wildfires and windstorm are advised to prepare in case weather conditions change unexpectedly.

Please visit SCE.com for updated information about outages. Customers may report outages at 1-800-611-1911 and online.

The loss of lives and devastation is heartbreaking to witness. Please be safe, take care of your family and check in on your neighbors.

UPDATE
Jan. 8, 2025
Important Update: Weather-Related Power Outages

Dear Valued Customer,

As we face the current windstorm, your safety remains our top priority.

We are currently experiencing a significant number of weather-related power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) throughout our service area due to strong winds and wildfire-weather conditions. To prioritize the safety of our crews and your community, we will restore power once the winds have settled, and our power lines are safely inspected.

Here are important reminders and resources to help you stay safe and informed:

SAFETY REMINDERS:

  • Stay Away from Downed Power Lines: If you encounter a downed power line, stay far away and call 9-1-1 immediately. Then, report it to SCE’s emergency line at 1-800-611-1911.
  • Secure Outdoor Items: Bring in or secure any outdoor furniture, decorations, or other items that could become projectiles.
  • Emergency Kit: Ensure you have essentials like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and a first aid kit readily available.

STAY INFORMED:

  • Get Outage Alerts: Receive outage alerts by email, text, or voice call. You can also sign up for PSPS alerts for a different address other than your account address. Sign up for outage alerts.
  • Review and Update your Contact Information: Log in to your online account to confirm your outage notification and alert preferences are correct for email, text, and/or voice calls.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR POWER IS OUT:

  • Outage Map: If your power goes out, you can find or report this information on our outage map. It also shows the areas that are shut off or under consideration for PSPS.
  • Community Resource: If you need additional support during an outage, please call 2-1-1 for assistance.
  • Outage Safety Tips: Review our safety tips for what to do during an extended power outage.
We are committed to helping you stay safe and informed.

Safety Tips FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES

  • Watch for downed wires — Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. They can electrify puddles, wet grass and the surrounding area. Never approach a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately.  

  • Prepare an emergency kit with essentials — Pack water, food, medications, first-aid supplies and other essentials, including emergency contacts, a battery-powered radio and cash.  

  • Sign up for outage alerts — Make sure that you stay up to date about power outages by signing up for alerts now at sce.com/outagealerts.

  • Review and Update your Contact Information: Log in to your online account to confirm your outage notification and alert preferences are correct for email, text, and/or voice calls.
  • Watch traffic signals — Watch for traffic signals that may be out and approach those intersections as four-way stops.   

  • Use your cellphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot — Find out if your cellphone can be used as a hotspot to connect to the internet. If so, you can connect your laptop or tablet to the Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone, a process called tethering. Keep in mind that when your phone is being used as a hotspot, it is sharing your monthly data allotment with other devices.